Heartland FBLA attends State Leadership Conference
April 14, 2009
Heartland FBLA students attended the Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference in Omaha on April 2-4, 2009. Over 2,100 students and advisers attended the three-day conference. Heartland students earned 19 awards at this event. The students attending the conference were: (Seniors) Michelle Barr, Quint Geis, Christianne Kroeker, Clint Kroeker, Brianna Rader, Tiffanie Squire and Whitney Steingard (Juniors) Crista Buller, Jennifer Goossen, Jordan Hiebner, Randian Spencer and Katie Wilhelm (Sophomores) Tori Bittinger, Kim Goossen, Emily Huebert, Mariah Kliewer, Tyler Kliewer and Ariel Lundstrom (Freshmen) Sondra Buller and Jennifer Yoder. Also attending was adviser Kristy Most.
The keynote speaker of the Opening General Session was Patrick George. His message motivated the students to get ready to meet the challenge of leadership. Participants also had the opportunity to listen to campaign speeches from the 12 candidates for State Office.
Thursday and Friday were filled with competitive events ranging from Banking and Financial Systems and Word Processing II to Business Communications and Job Interview, plus many more. Eight seminars covering topics such as marketing, attitudes about money, cutting edge careers and five star leadership were presented while the State Officer candidates were actively campaigning for office. The Formal Caucus to question the candidates took place Thursday night, and the Second General Session was held Friday evening. By that time, nearly all events had been completed, the votes for State Officers were in, and the final results were being tallied.
Saturday morning was the time of truth as the winners were revealed—not only for State Office but also for qualifying for the National Leadership Conference to be held in Aneheim, California. Only the top two or three from each event earn the honor to compete on the national level, which is a great accomplishment. Other highlights during the Awards Program were the farewells of the retiring officers and the installation of the 2009-10 State Officer Team.
FBLA is a professional organization with an emphasis on business and leadership. Nebraska has over 4,000 members in more than 100 chapters all across the state.
Students earning awards were: Clint Kroeker – 3rd Marketing, 3rd Banking and Financial Systems Team, 4th Emerging Business Issues Team, 6th Business Communications; Brianna Rader – Who's Who in Nebraska FBLA, 2nd Business Procedures, 4th Emerging Business Issues Team, 7th Entrepreneurship Team, Honorable Mention Economics; Whitney Steingard – 7th E-Business Team; Michelle Barr – 4th Emerging Business Issues Team, 7th Entrepreneurship Team, Honorable Mention Marketing, Honorable Mention Job Interview; Quint Geis – 7th E-Business Team; Jennifer Goossen – 3rd Word Processing II, 3rd Banking and Financial Systems Team; Crista Buller – 3rd Accounting II, 3rd Banking and Financial Systems Team; Jordan Hiebner – 7th E-Business Team; Katie Wilhelm – 7th Entrepreneurship Team; Tori Bittinger – 2nd Word Processing II, Honorable Mention Introduction to Business Communications; Kim Goossen – 4th Word Processing II, Honorable Mention Accounting I; Sondra Buller – Honorable Mention Keyboarding Knowledge, Honorable Mention Word Processing I.
